Astraeus hygrometricus

Barometer Earthstar

Spent fruit were abundant under Live Oak, Dairy Creek, 12/30/12.

Images do not show the central “puffball”(now lost and decayed), but only the enclosing base.  The base responds to moisture and opens fully in wet weather.

Wikipedia notes genus Astraeus is in the order Boletales, and consequently not closely related to the true earthstars in the genus Geastrum.  Geastrum sp. are abundantly found under Monterey Cypress in our local area.  This is a remarkable case of convergent evolution, as the taxa very closely resemble each other and function identically.

Dairy Creek, 12/30/12

MykoWeb article on Astraeus hydrometricus